There were two ways to look at this film: as a conceit, as in, “what a great story – a girl about to take her vows in the convent which raised her discovers she is Jewish and returns to the society which destroyed her family” -- or as a journey of a fresh soul into the heart of humanity and finds th...

An immaculate life of solitude and devotion to God is a commitment marked by sacrifice for which not many are prepared. Giving up mundane and carnal pleasures for a state of plentiful spirituality is not simple undertaking. There must be no doubt, no curiosity to experience the world outside the val...

From the opening moments of “Ida,” the Polish film from director Pawel Pawlikowski—that plays in competition at the Marrakech Film Festival, but is already trailing awards from TIFF (FIPRESCI critics award) and Warsaw (Grand Prix), having also elicited a rave from our own Oli Lyttelton when he saw i...

The BFI London Film Festival wrapped this weekend, announcing its top prizes. UK-based Polish director Pawel Pawlikowski's "Ida," a drama centered on a Catholic nun exploring her Jewish roots, nabbed the fest's top award for Best Picture, while Best British Newcomer went to Jonathan Asser for his sc...

Consider this a companion piece to our Most Anticipated Foreign Films of 2011. Screen Daily released their own list of exciting over-seas prospects (subscription only), and while a good deal of it was stuff that we already covered - "The Turin Horse," "The Grand Master," "Set Me Free" (which they still have listed as "Untitled Dardenne Brothers") - the buffet was stuffed with plenty of fresh, delicious motion pictures worthy of everyone's palate. We've collected the best and most interesting projects and threw them into an easily digestible round up below. Feast your eyes on what this new year will have to offer, and know that we will refrain...